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Employee's Guide for Requesting Workflex

What to consider before asking for a flexible work schedule

If you are interested in requesting a change to your current work schedule, think about how workflex would affect you personally, how it would affect your ability to do your job, and the impact it would have on your workgroup.

Determine if your personal productivity would improve if you could alter your current work schedule or if your new schedule creates additional challenges.

If you decide to pursue this possibility, it’s important to write a thoughtful, concise proposal or business case for initiating workflex.

Check with your Human Resource department to see what the policy is in your unit/school regarding flexible scheduling and flexible workplace. Note if what you are considering asking for is an exception to a current policy, is aligned with current policy, or is something altogether new for your unit. The university as a whole does not have a flexible work policy, only guidelines for how to implement it in your unit. Keep your HR representative in the loop as you develop your request.

Put yourself in your “manager’s shoes” and think through the business reasons and ramifications for changing your schedule. Talk to your co-workers to determine if they support your proposal. If they have concerns, identify how you can address them.

Include suggestions about how you might be flexible to cover peak time coverage, meeting times, special events, communication with clients, co-workers, your supervisor, etc.

Identify if there are any additional changes that need to take place in order for you to meet your job specific performance goals and objectives.

Offer to make your work arrangement “a pilot” of 3-6 months with regularly scheduled meetings during the first few months to assess how things are going and to make adjustments as needed.

Read through the {{Workflex Frequently Asked Questions|WorkLife/Flexible Work Options/Frequently Asked Questions}} and consider how you might address questions or concerns your manager and co-workers may have.

Remember to be flexible and have a back-up plan in case you need to alter your original workflex to meet your department’s business needs.

Additional questions to ask yourself as you plan a proposal

What type of flexibility would I like?

What type of flexibility would work in my position?

How will this change affect my pay and benefits?

How will my flexible work option affect my customers?

How will my flexible work option affect my co-workers?

How will my flexible work option affect my manager?

How will others have to change to accommodate my schedule?

How can I make this easy for them?

How will this affect my family?

Additional/fewer child care hours needed?

Does this change who does pick up/drop off?

For flex place

Do I have an appropriate space to work at home?

Will I miss the camaraderie of the office?

Do I want to do this all the time or some of the time?

Will I be able to devote my full attention to work when physically at home?